Apparatus for propelling vessels.



W. 0. CUTTER APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16, 1915.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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w. .0. CUTIER. APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELSL APPL'lCATlON FILED FEB-16, 1915.

1,164,787. Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETSFSHEET i.

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TE STATES PATE WILLIAM 0. CUTTER, OF FOXBORO, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

Application filed February 16, 1915. Serial No. 8,679.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical andpowerful apparatus for propelling vessels.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which shallpropel a vessel by discharging fluid under pressure into a pipe orpassage arranged longitudinally of the vessel, which fluid creates amovement of the water through said pipe in one direction or the otherand discharges said fluid either at the stern or bow of the brake andclutch operating lever.

vessel.

Still another object of the invention is to provide instrumentalitiesfor economically producing the fluid under pressure and for dischargingsaid fluid into the passage in the direction desired.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of partswhereby the above objects and certain other objects hereinafterappearing may be attained, as set forth in the following specificationand particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of avessel with a device embodying my invention shown in connectiontherewith, said vessel being broken away and shown in section to savespace in the drawings. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, partly inelevation, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail sectionalelevation taken on the line 33 of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a transversesection, partly in elevation, taken on line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is adetail section of the brake mechanism taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the Fig. 7 is a section taken online 77 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the reversible ratchetmechanism for preventing the rotation of the wheel in one direction orthe other.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of thedrawings.

In the drawings, 10 is a portion of a vessel and 11 is a pipe arrangedlongitudinally of the vessel with a passage 12 extending therethroughand having openings at the bow and the stern of said vesselsubstantially as illustrated in my prior application for Device forpropelling and steering vessels, No. 855,165, patented May 28, 1907.

The pipe 11 is provided with an explosion chamber 13, which is formed ina casing 14 arranged in close proximity to the pipe 11 and preferablyformed integral therewith.

The explosion chamber 13 is connected with the passage 12 in the pipe 11by passages 15 and 16 extending outwardly from said explosion chamber inopposite directions, preferably toward the bow and stern respectively ofthe vessel.

A gate or valve 17 is interposed between the explosion chamber 13 andthe passages 15 and 16 for the purpose of closing one and opening theother of said passages; thus when the explosion occurs in the explosionchamber 13, said gate may be operated to permit the products ofcombustion to pass from said explosion chamber either through thepassage 15 or the passage 16 into the main passage 12.

The gate 17 is preferably formed cylindrical and is arranged to rotatewithin a cylindrical chamber 18 formed in the casing 14:, said gatehaving ports 19 and 20 which are adapted to be moved to alinerespectively with the passages 15 and 16, said passages being soarranged in said gate that when one of said ports is in alinement withone of the passages 15 or 16, the other of said ports alines with theexplosion chamber 13. The movements of the gate 17 are controlled by alever 21 upon the outside of the casing 14, which lever is secured tothe rotarv gate 17 through one of the end walls 22, 22 of said chamber14. l

The chamber 13 has been hereinbefore designated an explosion chamber andis particularly designed to receive a charge of gas and to permit theexplosion of said charge. This chamber however is not limited to the useof a propelling fluid which is exploded, but may be used in connectionwith any suitable fluids which may be admitted thereto under pressure.The preferred method however is, as has been hereinbefore stated, toadmit andexplode a charge of gas in'said chamber and from whence theproducts of said explosion are directed into the passage 12 of the pipe11 in the desired direction by means of the gate 17. Instrumentalitiesaretherefore provided for admitting or governing the admittance of acharge to said chamber and for governing the exploding of said charge.The fuel from which the explosion is produced is conducted tothemplosion chamber 13 throu h a pipe 23 from any suitable source, preerably a tank 24 to which a suitable mixture of gas has been previouslysupplied. The pipe 23 connects with said explosion chamber through aninlet chamber 25 formed within a detachable cap 26, which hasscrew-threaded engagement with the casing 14 at 27. See Fig. 4.

A valve 28 is interposed between the inlet chamber 25 and the explosionchamber 13 and is preferably of the type known as the puppet valve, saidvalve having a seat 29 formed in the cap 26. A stem 30 is arranged toreciprocate in the'cap 26 through suitable packing 31 secured in placein the cap 26 by a screw cap 32. A spring 33 encircles the valve stem 30outside of the cap 32 and normally retains the valve 28 in'Instrumentalities are also provided for igniting the charge, saidinstrumentalities including a spark plug 37 which is mounted in thecasing 14 within which is the chamber 13.. Said instrumentalitiesfurther include a battery or batteries 38 connected in circuit with thespark plug 37 by Wires 39 and 39'. A circuit make and break device 40 isalso included in said instrumentalities and includes a switch 41arranged to be operated automatically by a cam 42 secured to the shaft34, said cam comprising a disk having notches '43, 43 arranged in theperiphery thereof, which notches are adapted to receive a follower 44secured at the end of the switch member 41 and as the cam 42 is rotated,said follower 44 enters said notches and vibrates said switch.

The switch member 41 is preferably a resilient strip of metalpermanently secured at 45 to one of the supports for the shaft 34. Acontact 46 is provided on said support and at certain times in theoperation of the apparatus said contact is engaged by the vibrator orswitch member 41. The make and break 40 is preferably'inserted betweenthe wires 39 and 39, one of said wires being connected at 45 and theother at 46; thus as said cam rotates the circuit including said wires39 and 39 will be opened and closed.

The several instrumentalities for admitting and exploding the charge inthe explosion chamber are adapted to be operated by sired, by a clutch51 hereinafter more spe-' cifically described. p

In first starting a vessel with an apparatus such as described, theproducts of combustion or the fluid under pressure isdischargedthrough'the pipe 11 in the opposite directionto that in whichit is desired that the vessel should move, that is to say, if it isdesirable that the vessel illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 should travel inthe direction of the arrow 0;, see Fig. 2, the products of combustionmust be discharged from the vessel in the direction of the arrow b. Thepassage12 at this time will be filled with water and the impact of theproducts of combustion from the chamber 13 against said water expelssaid water from said passage, tending to produce a vacuum. The tendencyof the products of combustion when the vessel is stationary will be toexpand in all directions immediately upon leaving the passage 16, thuswater will be ejected not only toward the stern, but toward the bow ofthe vessel until sufficient headway has been maintained by the vessel toproduce a movement of water through the passage 12. In starting thevessel therefore it is desirable that an obstruction be provided whichwill resist the passage of water or the products of combustion throughthe passage 12 in the opposite direction to that in which the productsof combustion are being discharged or ejected from the chamber 13. Forthis purpose a wheel 52 has been provided, said Wheel being rotatablymounted in close proximity to the pipe 11, preferably, within a casing53 which is constructed as a part of one section of the pipe 11. Theaxis of the wheel 52 is outside of the passage 12, said wheel having aplurality of radially disposed blades 54 arranged to extend into saidpipe or transversely of the passage 12 thereof and to be rotated by thewater or fluid passing through said pipe.

A reversible ratchet mechanism 55 is provided by means of which saidWheel may be prevented from rotating in one direction or the otheraccording to the direction of movement of the products of combustionfrom the explosion chamber 13, that is to say, should the products ofcombustion be discharged in the direction of the arrow b the ratchetmechanism will be set so as to prevent the rotation of the wheel 52 inthe direction of the arrow f 0, but said wheel will be permitted torotate in the opposite direction,

thus a current of water will be produced through the passage 12 in thedirection of the arrows d permitting water to fill the vacuum or partialvacuum produced in the passage 12 by the rapidly discharging products ofcombustion.

The ratchet mechanism 55 preferably consists of a ratchet 56 fast to thearbor 57 of the wheel 52. The ratchet 56 is provided with teeth 62 whichare adapted to be enga ged upon opposite sides by a pawl 58 pivoted at59 to a stationary portion of the casing 53. The pawl 58 has two arms 60and 61 arranged to engage opposite sides respectively of the teeth 62and upon opposite sides of said ratchet. When the arm 60 is engagingsaid teeth the arm 61 will be out of contact therewith and vice versa.

To insure the proper setting of the reversible ratchet mechanism 55,when the gate 17 is operated, said gate and said ratchet mechanism areoperatively connected together preferably by means of a link 63pivotally connected to the lever 21 and having slidable engagement witha pin 63' on said pawl 58. Springs 64 and 64- are arranged upon oppositesides ofthe pin 63' within a longitudinal recess 65 formed in the end ofsaid link 63, said recess being closed at the end by a plug 65'. Thesprings 64 and 64 normally retain the pin 63 central relatively to thelongitudinal recess 65, but permit said pin to be moved toward one endor the other of said recess to yieldingly retain one of the arms of thepawl 58 in contact with said ratchet.

The lever 21 is preferably made flexible and works in a slot-102 formedin a plate 99, said plate having ledges 100 and 101 arranged adjacentopposite ends respectively of said slot 102 and against which said lever21 is adapted to rest, while in its extreme positions, to hold the pawls60 and 61 in contact with the teeth 62.

In addition to being employed as an obstruction for the water in thepipe 11, the wheel 52 is also adapted to be operatively connected withthe shaft 34 to operate said shaft in place of the motor 47, that is tosay, after the water passing through the pipe 11 has reached a certainvelocity, but until such velocity is reached the movements of said wheelare idle.

The wheel 52 is preferably operatively connected with the shaft 34 bymeans of a chain 66 engaging a sprocket 67 .on the arbor 57, and anothersprocket 68 rotatably and loosely mounted upon the shaft 34. A clutch 69is adapted to be operated to connect and disconnect the sprocket 67 withthe arbor 57, while another clutch 70 is adapted to connect anddisconnect the sprocket 68 with the shaft 34.

For convenience in operating the apparatus, the clutches 51, 69 and 70are all oper- The clutch 51 preferably consists of acone 71 secured to asleeve 72 which is journaled to rotate in a bearing 73 mounted in anysuitable manner, but referably upon the pipe 11. To the sleeve 2 issecured the sprocket 50 which receives its rotary motion from the motor47.

A collar 74is secured to the shaft 34 to rotate therewith, said collarhaving a conical recess 75 arranged to receive the cone 71 of saidclutch. A spring 76 is interposed between the collar 74 and the cone 71within a recess 77, preferably formed in said cone, thus normallyretaining said members apart and out of contact with each other. A disk78 is mounted upon the sleeve 72 between the cone 71 and the bearing 73and upon said disk are formed projections 79 arranged to engage.projections extending outwardly from the bearing 73. When theprojections 79 engage the projections 80, the cones 71 will be forcedinto the recess 75 of the collar 74 and thereby operatively c0nnect thesprocket 50, or in other words, the motor 47 with the shaft 34. p

A series of balls 81 are interposed between the disk 78 and the cone 71to eliminate friction between said members when said clutch is throwninto operation. The clutches 69 and 70 also have cones 71 arranged inconical recesses 75 in the hubs of the sprockets 67 and 68. Springs 76are also interposed within recesses 77 formed in said cones. The disks78 are also provided with projections 79 adapted to engage projections80 on stationary portions of the frame. The series of balls 81 are alsointerposed between the members 71 and 78 of said clutches. A link '82 isconnected with the disks 78 of the clutches 70 and 69 in such a mannerthat when one of said clutches is thrown out the other of said clutcheswill also be thrown out, thus disconnecting said wheel from said shaft.

A second link 83 is operatively connected with the link 82 to beoperated simultaneously therewith, said link 83 extending to the clutch51. This link however instead of being connected directly to the disk 78of the clutch 51 is attached to the end of the lever 84 which is pivotedat 85 to a stationary bracket 86. A pin 87 secured to the disk 78 ofsaid clutch 51 engages the lever 84 within a slot 88 and as said leveris rocked upon its pivot, said disk 78 will be moved thereby to throwsaid clutch 51 into and out of operation. This clutch however isconnected in such a way that when the clutches 69 and 70 are thrown intooperation, said An operating lever 89 is connected with the links 82 and83 and is adapted to move said links from one position to the other tothrow said several clutches into and out of operation, said lever beingadapted to be locked in its several positions by a pawl 90 adapted todrop into notches 91 formed in the face of a segment 92, said pawl beingoperated in the usual manner by a hand lever 93.

It is desirable that the shaft 34 be brought to a stop as quickly aspossible when all of the clutches are thrown out of operation and toaccomplish this result a'brake 94 is provided, preferably consistingof'a band 95 encircling the collar 7 4, see Fig. ,5, one end of saidband being securedto the fixed bracket 86, while the other end thereofis provided with a stud 96 which engages the lever 84 within a slot 97.

When the apparatus is at rest all of the clutches will be thrown out ofoperation and, the brake band 95 will be set against the periphery ofthe collar 74 and when said parts are in this position, the stud 96 willbe in the end of the slot 97, as shown in Fig. 6. Pressure is suppliedto said stud by means of said lever to provide suflicient friction forthe band 95 against said collar.

To further add to the effectiveness of the apparatus the wheel 52 isadapted to be connected with the motor 47 by a sprocket 98, whichengages the chain 66, and as said motor 47 is operating through thechain 49 to rotate the shaft 34, the chain 66 will be operated to rotatethe sprockets 67 and 68 idly upon their respective shafts. When asufficient volume of water is being, conducted through the pipe 11 andthe wheel 52 is being rotated thereby the chain 49 is disconnected bymeans of the clutch 51 from the shaft 34 and the chain 66 connected withsaid shaft. At such a time said wheel will operate the motor 47 throughthe sprocket 98 as a generator, merely reversing the action thereof inthe usual and well known manner and recharging the batteries.

The general operation of the apparatus is as follows: Assuming that theseveral mechanisms are at rest and all of the clutches thrown out ofoperation and the tank 24 filled with the proper fuel, the electriccircuit from the motor to the batteries must be closed, setting saidmotor intooperatic-11 to rotate the sprocket 50. The lever' 84 is thenmoved by the operating lever 89 in the direction of the arrow a, Fig. 6,first to release the pressure of the brake band 95 upon the collar 74which had previously been held by the stud 96 in the end of the slot 97.After the brake has been released a continued movement of the lever 84in the same direction movesthe projections 79 on the disk 78 of theclutch 51 into engagement with the projections 80 on the or rear end ofthe pipe 11, according to the direction in which it is desired that thevessel should travel. Simultaneously with the 7 operation of said gatethe wheel 52 is set to prevent its; being rotated in the wrong directionby the" force of the explosion in the explosion chamber and the passageof the gases therefrom. The setting of said gate andof said wheel isaccomplished by deflecting the lever 21 from its contact with one of theledges 100 and 101, transversely of the slot 98, permitting said leverto be swung from one of said ledges along the slot 92 to the other ofsaid ledges, and when said lever arrives at the opposite end of the slot102, the spring thereof will be sufiiclent to cause said lever to dropbehind the ledge at that end of said slot. After sufficient headway ofthe vessel has been attained and the water is passing through thepassage 12 and rotating the wheel 52 at the desired speed, the operatinglever 89 is' operated to rock the lever 84 still farther'upon its pivotin the direction of the arrow a. This movement of said lever causes theprojections 79 of the clutch 51 to move beyond and clear of theprojections '80, permitting the spring 76 to retract the cone 71 thusdisconnecting the motor 47 from the shaft 34.. Simultaneously with thedisconnecting of said motor from'said shaft the wheel 52 is connectedwith said shaft by means of the clutches 69 and70, while the motorcontinues to operate to generatethe electricity and recharge the battery38, or at least supply sufficient current to ignite the charge in theexplosion chamber 13.

When it is desired to stop the vessel the operating lever is reversedwith a consequent reversal of the disk 78 of the clutch 51 together withthe disks of the other clutches until all of said clutches have beendisconnected and the brake band again drawn taut, about the collar 74thus returning the apparatus to a state of rest.

products of combustion through one. or the other of said passages, awheel rotatably arranged adjacent said pipe, a plurality of blades onsaid wheel arranged to extend into said pipe, and means for locking saidwheel against rotation in one direction or the other according to thedirection of movement of the products of combustion from said explosionchamber.

2. A propelling apparatus for vessels having, in combination, a pipearranged longitudinally of the vessel, said pipe having an explosionchamber arranged adjacent thereto and connected by passages extendingfrom said explosion chamber toward the bow and toward the stern of saidvessel, instrumentalities for producing explosions in said explosionchamber, means for directing the products of combustion through one orthe other of said passages, a wheel rotatably arranged adjacent saidpipe, a plurality of radially-disposed blades on said wheel arranged toextend transversely of said pipe,

said wheel being adapted to be rotated by the passing of fluid throughsaid pipe, and means for preventing the rotation of said wheel in onedirection or the other according to the direction of movement of theproducts of combustion from said explosion chamber.

3. A propelling apparatus for vessels having, in combination, a pipeprovided with an explosion chamber, said chamber being connected withsaid pipe by passages extending from said chamber toward the forward andrear ends of said pipe, a valve for said explosion chamber adapted to beoperated to admit a charge thereto, igniting .instrumentalitiestherefor, means adapted to operate said valve and. said ignitinginstrumentalities to produce explosions in said chamber, a wheelrotatably arranged adjacent to said pipe, said wheel having a'pluralityof blades extending transversely of said pipe and adapted to be engagedby the passing of fluid through said pipe, and means constructed andarranged to transmit motion from said wheel to said valve and saidigniting instrumentalities.

4. A propelling apparatus for vessels having, in combination, a pipeextending longitudinally of the Vessel, said pipe having an explosionchamber formed therein outside of the passage through said pipe, saidchamber having passages extending therefrom into said'pipe substantiallyin opposite directions, a rotary gate arranged in said chamber andadapted to close one and open the other of said passages, a wheel, aplurality of radially disposed arms on said wheel adapted to projectacross said pipe, means adapted to prevent the rotation of said wheel inone direction or the other, and means operatively connecting said lastnamed means with said rotary gate whereby said members may be operatedsimultaneously.

5. A propelling apparatus for vessels having, in combination, a pipearranged longitudinally of the vessel and provided 7 with an explosionchamber connected with said pipe by passages extending from said chambertoward the forward and rear ends of said pipe, a gate adapted to closeone or the other of said passages, an inlet valve for said chamber, anigniting device, a shaft, means on said shaft adapted to operate saidinlet valve and said igniting device to admit and explode a chargewithin said explosion chamber, an electric motor adapted to rotate saidshaft, a wheel rotatably arranged adjacent said pipe and adapted to berotated by the passing of water through said pipe, said wheel also beingadapted to rotate said shaft, and means for connecting said shaft withanddisconnecting the same from either said motor or said wheel.

6. A propelling apparatus for vessels having, in combination, a pipeextending longitudinally of said vessel, instrumentalities adapted toinject propelling fluid into said pipe, means for directing said fluidtoward the forward or rear ends of said pipe, an electric motor adaptedto operate said instrumentalities, a battery adapted to supply currentto said motor, a wheel adapted to be rotated by the passing of waterthrough said pipe to operate said instrumentalities to inject propellingfluid into said pipe, said wheel also being adapted to operate saidmotor to generate electricity, and means for disconnecting or connectingeither said motor or said wheel from said shaft.

7. In combination a vessel provided with a passage for water extendinglongitudinally thereof, instrumentalities adapted to inject fluid underpressure into said passage, means for governing the injection of saidfluid into said passage, and a wheel projecting into said passage andadapted to be rotated by the passing of water through said passage, saidwheel also being adapted to obstruct the pipe in one direction or theother.

8. In combination, a vessel provided with a passage for water extendinglongitudinally thereof, instrumentalities adapted to inject fluid underpressure into said passage, means for governing the injection of saidfluid into said passage, an electric motor adapted to operate saidgoverning means, and a wheel projecting into said passage and adapted tobe rotated by the water passing therethrough, said wheel being adaptedto operate said governing means, said wheel being also adapted tooperate said motor.

9. In combination, a vessel, a pipe extending longitudinally of saidvessel, said pipe having an explosion chamber connected therewith bymeans of passages extending explosion chamber, means for igniting saidcharge in said explosion chamber, a shaft, a cam on said shaft adaptedto operate said valve, a second cam on said shaft adapted to operatesaid igniting means, a motor- I adapted to rotate said shaft, a clutchadapted to operatively connect said motor with said shaft, a brake forsaid shaft, and means adapted to operate said clutch to connect anddisconnect said motor from said shaft,

-said means also being adapted to apply said brake to said shaft.

10. In combination, a vessel, a pipe eX- tending longitudinally of saidvessel, said pipe having an explosion chamber connected therewith bymeans of passagesextending from said explosion chamber toward the bowand toward the stern of said vessel, a valve arranged to admit a chargeto said explosion chamber, means for igniting said charge in saidexplosion chamber, a shaft, a cam on said shaft adapted to operate saidvalve, a second cam on said shaft adapted to operate said ignitingmeans, a motor adapted to rotate said shaft, a clutch adapted tooperatively connect said motor with said shaft, a brake for said shaft,and a lever connected with said clutch and said brake and adapted to bemoved in one direction to throw in said clutch and release said brake,said lever being adapted to bemoved in the opposite direction to throwout said clutch and apply said brake.

11. In combination, a vessel, a pipe extending'longitudinally of saidvessel, said pipe having an explosion chamber con-- nected therewith bymeans of passages extending from said explosion chamber to- Ward the bowand toward the stern of said vessel, a valve arranged to admit a chargeto said explosion chamber, means for igniting said charge in saidexplosion chamber, a shaft, a cam on said shaft adapted to operatesaidvalve, a second cam on said shaft adapted to operate said ignitingmeans, a motor adapted to rotate said shaft, a clutch interposed betweensaid motor and said shaft, a wheel arranged adjacent to said pipe andadapted to be rotated by water passing therethrough, a clutch interposedbetween said wheel and said shaft, and means arranged to alternatelythrow said clutches respectively into and out of operative positions.

12. A propelling apparatus for vessels having, in combination, a pipeextending longitudinally of the vessel, said pipe having an explosionchamber connected there with by passages extending from-said explosionchamber substantially in opposite directions, means adapted to close oneor the other of said passages, a wheel rotatably arranged in said pipe,a plurality of radially disposed blades on said wheel projecting intosaid passage and adapted to be moved by water passing through said pipeto rotate said wheel, a reversible ratchet mechanism connected with saidwheel, and means operatively connecting said ratchet mechanism with saidpassage closing means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses. a

WILLIAM O. CUTTER. Witnesses:

SYDNEY E. TAFT, CHARLES S. GOODING.

